Hikari wo Atete Shiboru (2016 Film)

Hikari wo Atete Shiboru (Japanese: ひかりをあててしぼる) is a 2016 Japanese drama and crime film directed by Ryota Sakamaki. The film explores the psychological and financial decline of a married couple living in Japan.

Promotional poster for Hikari wo Atete Shiboru — Promotional poster for the film.

Plot

The story follows Kohei, a salaryman who meets a woman named Tomomi at a matchmaking event. The two eventually marry, but their initial happiness is short-lived. As the relationship progresses, conflicts arise regarding their lifestyle and personal autonomy. Tomomi insists on maintaining an expensive apartment to project an image of success, which leads to significant financial strain and debt for Kohei. The tension culminates in domestic violence as Kohei struggles to maintain his role as a husband, while Tomomi remains trapped in a cycle of dependency.

Cast

The film features the following primary cast members:

Shugo Oshinari as Kohei
Megumi Hatachiya as Tomomi
Takashi Nagayama as Takumi
Yuki Sakurai
Mikiya Sanada

Production

The film was directed by Ryota Sakamaki, with a screenplay written by Daisuke Miyazaki and Sakamaki. It was produced by Soichiro Koga, Isamu Matsue, and Kimie Takemura, with cinematography by Koichi Furuya. The film was released in Japan on December 3, 2016, with a runtime of 83 minutes and was distributed by Argo Pictures.